The path of desire : living Tantra in northeast India / Hugh B. Urban.
| Author/creator | Urban, Hugh B. author. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2024. |
| Copyright Date | ©2024 |
| Description | viii, 272 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Portion of title | Living Tantra in northeast India |
| Contents | Introduction. The path of desire : living Tantra, vernacular religion, and the study of secrets -- The left-hand path : secrecy, transgression and the Kaula tradition in Assam -- "The land of black magic" : healing, enchantment, and witchcraft -- The Politics of sacrifice : blood offerings and the struggle over local and national identity in modern India -- Dancing for the snake : possession, performance, and gender in Manasā Pūjā -- "The cradle of Tantra" : modern transformations of a Tantric center from nationalist symbol to tourist destination -- "Sinister T̄āntriks" : Tantra in popular culture, fiction, and film -- Conclusion. The path of desire in the age of capital : living Tantra in the context of globalization and neoliberalism. |
| Abstract | "In the Western popular imagination, there is a singular association between Tantra and sex. But behind sensationalist stories of Tantric lovemaking lies a rich spiritual and textual tradition of which sexual union is only a small, and fiercely debated, part. In The Path of Desire, Hugh B. Urban takes us on an ethnographic journey to Assam, the heartland of Tantric practice in contemporary India, revealing the vibrant, dynamic lived tradition of Hindu Tantra. The Path of Desire expands our definition of kāma, a central concept of Tantra generally translated as "desire," to focus on mundane and worldly desires such as healing and childbearing. This more holistic notion of desire manifests itself in popular folk practice, which Urban categorizes in four forms: institutional Tantra, comprised of gurus, disciples, and esoteric rituals; public Tantra, involving offerings and temple celebrations; folk Tantra, focusing on practices of healing, protection, material wellbeing, and desire fulfillment; and pop Tantra, or how Tantra is portrayed in popular media such as paperbacks, comic books, and movies. The result is a nuanced understanding of Tantra as a diverse lived tradition"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| LCCN | 2023021461 |
| ISBN | 9780226831121 |
| ISBN | 9780226831107 hardcover |
| ISBN | 0226831108 hardcover |
| ISBN | 0226831124 paperback |
| ISBN | electronic book |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | Order on Demand Title | Order On Demand | ✔ Available | Click to order this title |